Georgia Bicycle Helmet Statute

CODE OF GEORGIA
TITLE 40. MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
CHAPTER 6. UNIFORM RULES OF THE ROAD
ARTICLE 13. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES
PART 1. BICYCLES AND PLAY VEHICLES

40-6-292 Manner of riding bicycle; carrying more than one person.

(a) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent
and regular seat attached thereto and shall allow no person to ride upon the handlebars.

(b) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for
which it is designed and equipped.

(c) No person shall transport a child under the age of one year as a passenger on a
bicycle on a highway, roadway, bicycle path, or sidewalk; provided, however, that a child
under the age of one year may be transported on a bicycle trailer or in an infant sling so
long as such child is seated in the bicycle trailer or carried in an infant sling
according to the bicycle trailer's or infant sling's manufacturer's instructions, and the
bicycle trailer is properly affixed to the bicycle according to the bicycle trailer's
manufacturer's instructions or the infant sling is properly worn by the rider of the
bicycle according to the infant sling's manufacturer's instructions and such child
transported in a bicycle trailer or infant sling is wearing a bicycle helmet as required
under paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of Code Section 40-6-296.

(d) No child between the ages of one year and four years shall ride as a passenger on a
bicycle or bicycle trailer or be transported in an infant sling unless the child is
securely seated in a child passenger bicycle seat, bicycle trailer, or infant sling
according to the child passenger bicycle seat's, bicycle trailer's, or infant sling's
manufacturer's instructions and the child passenger seat or bicycle trailer is properly
affixed to the bicycle according to the child passenger bicycle seat's or bicycle
trailer's manufacturer's instructions or the infant sling is worn according to the infant
sling's manufacturer's instructions.

(e) Violation of subsections (c) and (d) of this Code section shall not constitute
negligence per se nor contributory negligence per se or be considered evidence of
negligence or liability.

(f) No person under the age of 16 years failing to comply with subsections (c) and (d)
of this Code section may be fined or imprisoned.

40-6-296 Lights and other equipment on bicycles.

(a) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a light on the front
which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of 300 feet to the front and with a
red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety which
shall be visible from a distance of 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful
upper beams of headlights on a motor vehicle. A light emitting a red light visible from a
distance of 300 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

(b) Every bicycle sold or operated shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the
operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level pavement.

(c) No bicycle shall be equipped or operated while equipped with a set of handlebars so
raised that the operator must elevate his hands above his shoulders in order to grasp the
normal steering grip area.

(d) No bicycle shall be equipped, modified, or altered in such a way as to cause the
pedal in its lowermost position to be more than 12 inches above the ground, nor shall any
bicycle be operated if so equipped.

(e) (1) No person under the age of 16 years shall operate or be a passenger on a
bicycle on a highway, bicycle path, or sidewalk under the jurisdiction or control of this
state or any local political subdivision thereof without wearing a bicycle helmet.

(2) For the purposes of this subsection, the term "bicycle helmet" means a
piece of protective headgear which meets or exceeds the impact standards for bicycle
helmets set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial
Foundation.

(3) For the purposes of this subsection, a person shall be deemed to wear a helmet only
if a helmet of good fit is fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet.

(4) No bicycle without an accompanying protective bicycle helmet shall be rented or
leased to or for the use of any person under the age of 16 years unless that person is in
possession of a bicycle helmet at the time of the rental or lease.

(5) Violation of any provision of this subsection shall not constitute negligence per
se nor contributory negligence per se or be considered evidence of negligence or
liability.

(6) No person under the age of 16 failing to comply with any provision of this
subsection may be fined or imprisoned.

40-6-352 Protective headgear.

(a) No person shall operate or ride as a passenger upon a moped unless he or she is
wearing protective headgear which complies with standards established by the commissioner.
The commissioner in determining such standards shall consider the size, speed, and
operational characteristics of the moped. Such standards need not necessarily be the same
as for motorcyclists; however, any moped operator wearing an approved motorcycle helmet
shall be deemed in compliance with this subsection. Operators of electric assisted
bicycles may wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet which meets the standards
of the American National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standards
for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling, rather than a motorcycle helmet.

(b) The commissioner is authorized to approve or disapprove protective headgear for
moped operators and to issue and enforce regulations establishing standards and
specifications for the approval thereof. He shall publish lists by name and type of all
protective headgear which have been approved by him.